Roll for music-controllers.



No. 757,874. PATENTED APR. 19, 1904. A. ANDERSON. ROLL FOR MUSICCONTROLLERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented April- 19, 1904.

PATENT ()FFICE.

ALFRED ANDERSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS W.CARTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

nou. eon MUSIC-CONTROLLERS.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 757,874, dated April19, 1904.

Application filed July 20, L903. Serial No. 166,260. (No model.)

To all 1071,0772 it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED ANDERSON, a

citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to a controller-roll,.

so called, for receiving and holding the long perforatedcontrollensheets used'for operating automatically pianolas and similarinstruments. Such rolls are used in" the playing instruments as a meansfor holding the control? ler-sheet while itis being unwound from it andalso as a means for receiving the controllersheet after it has been usedand for holding it wound when removed from the machine and Such rollshave generally been fixed retaining-flanges at each end. They havefurther been provided at each end with a pin for mounting them in theplaying instrument. It has been found, however, that a roll'having noprovision for extension between the flanges is not desirable, becausethe paper of the controller-sheet is not always accurately cut to fitthe space between the flanges and because the paper varies in widthaccording to the moistureof the atmosphere about it, so that if out on adry day to accurately fit the rollspace between the flanges the rollupon a moist day would be somewhat wider and would bind against theflanges sufliciently to interfere somewhat with its unrolling and alsosubsequently with its rolling up. There would be a tendency to drag'inthe first instance and to broom up on the edge in the second or tonarrow some of the note-perforations by causing the paper to fold orcrease along such lines, which are lines of least resistance. On theother hand, paper out on a moist day to fit the rolls between theflanges would upon a dry day shrink sufliciently to draw away from one.or' both flanges enough tomake the flanges lose their primary object ofgoverning the po- A sition of the strip with respect to the tracker'board. It will beunderstood, of course, that for good,and accurateplaying- .it is essential that the note-perforations in the controller-'sheet should always register centrally with the holes of thetracker-board for which theywere intended in passing over the board and:that any dispositionof the paper to expand, contract, or crease which isnot controlled is liable to change this relationship of the noteperforations to the tracker-boardholes enough to even cause thenote-perforations not only to partly register With them, which is notespecially desirable, but not register with them at all, which of coursewould "produce discord and is to be avoided. My invention is designednot only to provide means for controlling these vagaries of thecontroller-sheet, but

it also may provide a structure for receivingand holdingcontroller-sheets which intention ally vary in width when such variationis of ali mited degree.

I prefer to carry my invention into efiect by not departing materiallyfrom the common form of roll, and I accomplish this end by first makingthe roll in the ordinary way that is, with a wooden spindle forreceiving.

the-paper sheet and flanges at each end of the spindle, fixed to it, andthe usu'al'pins for mounting the roll in the instrument. The spindle ofthe roll thus formed is divided into lengths by saw cuts. The cutentering one side ofv the spindle first curves inward to near the centerthereof, then extends outward lengthwise it, then turns upon itself andretraces its course in opposing'curves to the opin the spindle asomewhat long tongue ofithe diameter of the spindle in thickness andformed so as to have a narrow portion or neck the lines of which divergeoutwardly beyond the posite side of the spindle, thereby producing theneck of the tongue, and rounded surfac'es the reverse inshap of thoseextending from the neck outward.- This gives the spindle an opportunityfor elongation between the flanges 'wi-thout separation andwithoutweakening the spindle and also without forming in the surface ofthe spindlea depressed area of any appreciable extent in it which thefirst winds of the sheetjcan enter, {The-spindle, while it this.

in handling the roll asthoughit were not out. The out also is ofadvantage in ,,many instances, in that it permits the roll' to run truerin the machine than if it did not exist, many of the spindles, having adisposition to warp.

out of true after-they have been turned; but by the cut described thewarped spindle may -be used and will run true}. I ,pre'fer'to make asthis" will tend'to strengthen the spindle the cut on -the line of someimperfection or knot and near one end thereof; 1 also preferto inclose.the spindleat the cut. by ashortf sleeve, preferably of paper, fastenedto, the

b te the curve of the spindle. The tongue has spindle upon one side ofthe out or the other,

without interfering witll its vi'rtues- The inner end of the sheet isattached, preferably,; to the partof'the' spindle to which the sleeve.is securedand to .thesleeve. It may or may not be attached to theportionof the spindle which extends beyond the sleeve andto which thesleeve is not-scour v :j

A feat re of myfinvention rendering it"pe culiarly-yaluable to'the'artrelates .to the manner in which itmay be incorporated in' 'spindlesofvarying lengths. Controller-rolls are made in lengths usually running.from eight inches upward to'two or more times that amount, although, ofcourse, there are no definite limits. The longer the roll the greaterwill be-the-totai expansion or contraction of the controller-sheetthereon due to atmospheric'changes; 'It is to be noted that the moretapering or the less abrupt are the curves of; the cut "dividingmyspindle the greater will be the player relative movement of its twosections for a, given clearance or width of cut. Therefore by sodividing the shorter spindles that the curve of the tongue is quitesharply defined and by' dividing the longer spindles on lines morenearly parallel to their axes --I exactly provide the necessarymovement'in each case. I will now describe the invention in con-'junctionlwith-the drawings forming a part of this specification,wherein-.' V

Figure 1 is a view of the complete roll, representing its structure andalso the part which forms the sleeve. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view tobetter show the portion of the roll to which which forms thetongue-holder and also showing the sleeve, the end of acontroller-sheet, and aflange,

Referring to the drawings, A represents the spindle of the roll,.A and Aits flanges, and

a and a, the piiis by which it is mounted in the playing instrument. Theflanges arc fixed to the spindle, and the spindle is susceptible 'ofelongation by virtue of the recess (0 shapedto form upon the section aof the spindle'the tongue '20 and upon the section a of the spindie thetongue-holder a. This recess may be of such width and shape wheredesired as to' give any desired extent of elongation t0 the spindlebetween theflanges A and A and the width and shape of the recess governthe extent to which the tongue may be moved.

lengthwise its holder. The tonguea is rep ,resentedin thickness as ofthe diameter of the 'spindle'and as having curved sides to conform theneck. a and the head or enlargement a,

rounded, as represented. The holder a has the 'enlargeme'nt'a toreceivethe head a of the tongue and the contracted part a to hold the neck ofthe tongue, and the tongue and holder are adapted to slide upon eachother.- I prefer that the' tongue and holder be located near "one end ofthe roll, although this is not neces- 4 :sary.

- In order eral movement in the direction of the side surfaces of thetongue, I prefer that the holder and tongue be coveredby a-sleeve B,prefer-' J ably of paper of one or more thicknesses'and preferablyattached to the part a of the spindle by adhesive material, butnot-attached to thepart a. While I have represented the sleeve asattached to the 'part a, it may be attached to the .part a instead.

The inner end 0 of the controller-sheetC is preferably attached to theportion of the spindle to which the sleeve B'is secured and to thesleeve,.alth0ugh I do not confine myself to this method of'attaching itto the spindle.-

It will beunderstood that the controllersheet serves to automaticallyvary and control the distance between the two flanges A and A of theroll as it is wound upon the roll and that the spindle of the rollelorigates or shortens to the variationsin the width of thecontroller-sheet and to the length of the roll in -which the sheet iswound; also, that the usual yielding bearing in the playing instrument,which receives and holds tlie'roll while the sides of'which are inwardlyand outwardly thatthe two parts of the spindle .may be prevented fromhaving the slight lat-' the sheet-is being unwound from it and alsowhile it is being wound upon it c after it has beenplayed, serves toexert and maintain a closing pressure upon the ;two flanges of the roll,whereby one of the flanges while in the machine is caused to be pressedtoward the other, and that this assists in maintaining the flanges ofthe roll in a governing relation to the edge of the controller-sheet'while it is being played and also while it is being rewound.

While I have described one method of forming the tongue and its holderin the spindle, I would not be understood as limiting myself to suchmethod, but can use any other that will secure the result abovespecified.

The possible shapes in which the interlocking tongues and recesses maybe cut are too nu mcrous to be mentioned, but they obviously fall withinthe scope of my invention.

I have implied that the tongue and holder were formed in the spindleafter the flanges were attached to the spindle, and while this is adesirable method of providing the roll with-means for the variation ofits flanges yet the spindle may be provided with the tongue and holderbefore the flanges are secured to it.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. Aroll for holding music controller-sheets herein described, the samecomprisinga spindle, flanges and rolbbearing pins, the spindle havingmeans for its elongation or contraction provided by a cut formed thereinto separate the spindle into two parts and provide one part with atongue and the other part with atongueholder, the tongue and tongueholder so formed as to have a restricted movement longitudinally withrespect to each other.

2. A roll for holding music controller-sheets herein described, the samecomprising a spindle, flanges and roll-bearing pins, the spindle havinginterlocking means for its elongation or contraction comprising a tonguehaving a head upon one "part of the spindle and a holder shaped toreceive and contain the tongue and head upon another part of thespindle, the

holder, tongue and head being'from side to side of the diameter of thespindle and being shaped throughout to the size of the remainder of thespindle. i

3. A roll for hold ing music controller-sheets herein described, thesame comprising a spindle in two parts, each of which has a flange and aroll-bearing, and one of which parts has a tongue and neck formed at itsend, and the other of which has a tongue-holder atits end formedto,receive and hold the tongue and permit its restricted longitudinalmovement therein.

4. A roll for holding music controller-sheets, the same comprisingaspindle, flanges and rollbeari-ng pins, the spindle having interlockingmeans for its elongation or contraction and a reinforcing-sleeve appliedtothe roll over the interlocking means and secured to the spindle in amanner to permit of said elongation or contraction.

6. A roll for holding music controller-sheets, the same comprisingaspindle, flanges and rollbearing pins, the spindle having integral,interlocking means for its elongation or contraction, and arein't'orcing-sleeve covering said integral, interlocking means.

7. A roll for holding music controller-sheets, the same comprising aspindle, flanges a ndrollbearingpins, and the spindle having integral,interlocking means for its elongation or contraction, a sleeve coveringsaid means and attached to a portion of said spindle, and acontroller-sheet adapted to be wound upon the spindle, attached by itsinner end to a portion of the spindle and to the sleeve.

8. A roll for holding music controller-sheets, the same comprising aspindle, flanges,and rollbearing pins, the spindle being in a pluralityof sections, said sections having interlocking means, permitting oftheir restricted relative movement along the axis of the spindle, and'of their free disengagement upon relative movement in another direction.

9. A roll the spindle of which is formed in a plurality of sections,said sections having in" terlocking means permitting of their restrictedrelative movement along the axis of the spin- ,dle and of their freedisengagement in another direction.

10. A roll the spindle of which is formed in a plurality of sections,said sections having intel-locking means preventing their relativerotation while permitting of their restricted relative movement alongthe axis of the spindle and'of their free disengagement upon relativemovement in another direction.

11, A roll the spindle of which is formed in a plurality of sections,the ends of the opposing sections of shapes to interlock by means of atongue on the one section anda recess in the' other section, said tongueextending from the spindle-sectio nas a relativelynarrow shank andbroadening beyond the shank, the tongue and recess being ofa relativelength and shape ment of said means transverse to-the axis-0f" inent ofsaid means transverse to the axis of the spindle. I the-spindle, and acontroller-sheet, the inner IO '1 13. Ahroll for holding musicglonlg'ollen end of 'which is attached to the said spindle. sleets, t esame comprisingaspin e, anges I and roll-bearing pins, the spindlehaving in- R ANDERSON tegral interlocking means permitting of itsWitnessesz restricted elongation and contraction and of F. RAYMOND, 2d,its free dismemberment upon'arelative m Ve- J; M. DOLAN.

